[TOP PICK][$] 8:00 pm ($27.25 & 2-drink min.) One of the funniest guys in comedy headlining for one night only at theCarolinesComedy Club:Gilbert Gottfried

[TOP PICK]8:00 pm ($5): AtUCB Chelsea, “a balls-out celebration of the crazy bitches who nobody listens to and the crazy pussies who do you real good and then burn down your house. With special appearances from your mom, the cute girl at the coffee shop, the cat lady next door, and your future ex-wife, this Bechdel Certified sketch show will forever change up your life for the worse,” starring the wonderful Laura Grey (Dorothy Goes to Hollywood, stellar old-time radio style theatrical podcastHorrorgasm) and Kristen Acimovic (ace sketch groupLegs For Days):Crazy Bitch/Crazy Pussy…

…and in the second half of this double-bill, sketch comedy from Matt Porter & Charlie Hankin as duoGood Cop Great Cop

[TOP PICK][$] 8:00 pm ($29): The onlyFringeNYCshow to ever include a barbershop quartet singing about alcohol and three rounds for each audience member (for my full review, which includes a rave for the spectacular Nicole DiMattei, please clickhere) is now playing as a perfect show for a date every Friday & Saturday night at the West Village’sSoho Playhouse(15 Vandam Street, in the downstairs Huron Club):The Imbible: A Spirited History of Drinking

[TOP PICK]8:00 pm-Midnight ($10 for the entire evening):The Magnethouse improv groupsThe BossandJunior Varsityperforming improv for an hour, followed at 9:00 pm byThe Blackout(long form improv in which “scenes are edited solely by blackouts created by the director in the booth and the stage is set by the improvisers from the previous scene”), at 10:00 pm by veteran improv groupHello Laser, and finally at 11:00 by improv competitionInspirado(like UCBT’s Cage Match, but with agame-like challengecomponent):The Magnet’s Night Out

[TOP PICK][FREE]8:00 pm: “Each stand-up will do his or her set, and then host JoAnna Ross will conduct an interview about the comic’s dating life. Questions you always wanted to know will be asked: Where do you take a first date to get laid? Do you pay? Where do you take a date to break up with them? What bathrooms have you done it in?” and much more atThe Creekupstairs theatre in Queens’ Long Island City:The Undateables

8:00 pm ($5): A one-woman show by Amanda Nicastro about her real-life experience of giving one of her kidneys to her ill sister in 2014 atThe PITdownstairs lounge:I’m Just Kidneying!

[MEGA-TOP PICK]9:30 pm ($5): There is no one quite like wonderful improvisor, writer, and video wizard Becky Krause (for samples, please clickhereandhere). If you’re yearning for something fresh and unique, come see Becky’s memorable one-woman show with “original sketches, characters, songs, and videos inspired by dreams”—not to mention, Becky kicks things off by rolling out of a cardboard box—atThe PITupstairs theatre:Becky Krause:I Dreamed a Dream

[FREE]6:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up with comics’ names drawn from a bucket and each chosen receiving 2 minutes—and if that goes well, maybe a hug (but not actual puppies)—atThe Creek’supstairs theatre in Queens’ Long Island City hosted by Ross Parsons & Trey Galyon:Free Puppies

6:00 pm (no cover, 1 drink min. for both comics and audience members): Open mic stand-up providing 5-7 minutes per comic, running 2 1/2 hours. Arrive 30 minutes before the show to get on the signup sheet. This is a fine opportunity to perform at the only comedy club in the East Village:Eastville Comedy Club Open Mic

[FREE]7:00 pm: In this freeMagnetshow, audience members (signing in at 6:00) can join in with improv groupJunior Varsityto make up scenes on the spot:Magnet Mixer

9:30 pm (free for audience members, $5or1 drink min. for stand-ups wanting to perform): Open mic stand-up providing 7 minutes per comic (and a free recording of your set!), with order determined raffle-style. Sign up by emailinginfo@oldmanhustle.comor calling (212) 253-7747, or just walk in and supply your name, to perform at theOld Man Hustle Bar(39 Essex Street) hosted by Solomon Chehebar:Peep Show Comedy Open Mic

[FREE]11:00 pm: An open-mic stand-up show that’s first come, first serve, with each comic getting 3 minutes on stage atThe Creekdownstairs lounge in Queens’ Long Island City hosted by Patrick Hastie:Beer, Booze, and Bits

[FREE]11:00 pm: A supportively silly jam for duo improv (you’ll be paired up on the spot) in which the audience shows “Good Scene!” at the end of every scene atThe PITdownstairs lounge hosted by improv groupJudith:Good Scene!: A Judith Jam

From legendary NYC comedy site Brooklyn Vegan: Thank God for Hy Bender’s religiously updated show bible BestNewYorkComedy.com. He is literally the only person in NYC providing daily summaries of what’s happening comedy-wise. It must be exhausting keeping that monster of a website alive…It is your daily comedy itinerary and it scares me how on top of his shit this guy is.

Please feel encouraged to reach out to tell me about comedy shows, hire me for book or screenplay work, or for any other reason by emailing me at hy@hyreviews.com.

[FREE]8:00 pm: Matt Wayne (co-host ofSee You in Hell), Missy Baker, Andrew Short, and Jay Nog performing for this free weekly stand-up show at the East Village’sBeauty Bar(231 East 14th Street, between Second and Third Avenues) produced by Becky Yamamoto, Kendra Cunningham, Jackie Jax, and Negin Farsad:Comedy School Dropout

[TOP PICK]9:15 pm ($5): The instructors of UCB’s classes include some of the finest improvisors in the country. In this new weekly show a bunch of them get on stage atUCB Easthosted by Doug Mo and/or Ben Rameaka:Hot for Teacher: The UCB Faculty Show

[FREE]10:00 pm: NYC stand-ups do sets “and then have a discussion about what’s going on in the world and the mysteries of life” atThe Creekupstairs theatre in Queens’ Long Island City, hosted by Chris Laker:The Show

[TOP PICK]11:15 pm ($5): Jo Firestone (exceptionally inventive and irresistible rising star;The Chris Gethard Show,radio host of WFMU’sDr. Gameshow,live-on-stage host ofPunderdome 3000, The Unexpectashow,andThe Incredible Game Show Showcase) and Sheng Wang (Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central Presents, Totally Biased) are tonight’s guests at this show in which “Improvisers and stand-ups do what they do best…and then switch places to try their hand at what the other does best. This show is a cross-disciplineCage Match” atUCB Easthosted by Boris Khaykin:Impro(vs)tandup

Wednesday Open Mics & Jams

5:00 pm ($5): Two-hour open mic for 20 stand-ups performing for 5 minutes each, with sign-up onlinehere, at theStand Up NYComedy Club (236 West 78th Street):Stand Up NY Open Mic

[FREE]6:00 pm: Open mic stand-up show that provides each performer whose name is pulled from a bucket 5 minutes on stage atThe Creekdownstairs lounge in Queens’ Long Island City hosted by Kaity Neagle & Irene Hartmann:Ragtag Team Open Mic Stand-Up

6:00 pm (no cover, 1 drink min. for both comics and audience members): Open mic stand-up providing 5-7 minutes per comic, running 2 1/2 hours. Arrive 30 minutes before the show to get on the signup sheet. This is a fine opportunity to perform at the only comedy club in the East Village:Eastville Comedy Club Open Mic

[FREE]11:00 pm: Open mic stand-up show, with each comic whose name is selected from a bucket getting on stage for 3 1/2 minutes, atThe Creekdownstairs lounge in Queens’ Long Island City, hosted by Benel Germosen:Chocolate Wednesday

11:00 pm ($3): Open mic stand-up show, with each comic whose name is selected from a bucket getting on stage for 3-5 minutes (depending on the number of comics) atThe PITdownstairs lounge hosted by Jenn Welch & Will Neville:The Guilt Trip

From legendary NYC comedy site Brooklyn Vegan: Thank God for Hy Bender’s religiously updated show bible BestNewYorkComedy.com. He is literally the only person in NYC providing daily summaries of what’s happening comedy-wise. It must be exhausting keeping that monster of a website alive…It is your daily comedy itinerary and it scares me how on top of his shit this guy is.

Please feel encouraged to reach out to tell me about comedy shows, hire me for book or screenplay work, or for any other reason by emailing me at hy@hyreviews.com.

[TOP PICK]7:00 pm-11:00 pm ($7 for the whole evening): In this 4-hour extravaganza, seven ofThe Magnet’simprov groups make up musicals based on audience suggestion, creating epic stories on the spot using song and dance:Magnet Musical Megawatt

7:00 pm ($5): According to comedy duo Jenn Welch & Jay Malsky, “We think the world would be a better place if we ran it. So here’s your opportunity, live and in-person, to ask us anything on your mind. And since it’s 11:00 pm on a Saturday, anything on your mind is probably related to sex. So toss out a sexy topic or a sexish conundrum; we’ll have an opinion” atThe PITupstairs theatre:Here’s What I Would Say

7:30 pm-9:15 pm ($5): Long form improv known asThe HaroldfromUCB Chelseahouse groups A Mean Scholar, In Thousands, and Higgins at this first half ofHarold Night

[$] [DISCOUNTED]7:30 pm ($7.37onlineusing codeBREAKOUT, plus 2-drink min.) A stand-up who’s written forThe Washington PostandThe Village Voice, and was a semi-finalist on last year’sLast Comic Standing, performs for one night only at theCarolinesComedy Club:Chloé Hilliard

9:15 pm-Midnight ($5): Long form improv known asThe HaroldfromUCB Chelseahouse groups Swirly Animal, Clan Weirdos, and Women & Men at this second half (continued from 7:30 pm) ofHarold Night

[TOP PICK]9:30 pm ($5): The brilliant Todd Bieber (Director of Content and Production for UCB Comedy) spearheads this show that screens the work of the UCB video division, and also hosts live stand-up and sketch, all at theUCB Easttheatre:UCB Comedy Live

9:30 pm ($5): Sketch, improv, and stand-up comics “create a brand new show in only one week, and then perform improvised sketches based off of your suggestions, just like The Second City used to do” atThe PITupstairs theatre directed by Micah Sherman:Old School Sketch Show

[ALMOST FREE]6:00 pm ($1): Open mic sketch that allows you to either perform a sketch with your own performers or bring in pages for the audience to perform atThe PITGreen Room, followed by feedback on your bit from PIT “sketch-perts:”Pens & Pencils

6:00 pm (no cover, 1 drink min. for both comics and audience members): Open mic stand-up providing 5-7 minutes per comic, running 2 1/2 hours. Arrive 30 minutes before the show to get on the signup sheet. This is a fine opportunity to perform at the only comedy club in the East Village:Eastville Comedy Club Open Mic

[FREE]6:00 pm: Open mic for comedy of all types providing 2 minutes for each performer (with sign-up starting at 6:00) at Queens LIC’sThe Creekupstairs theatre hosted by Tim Unkenholz:Butt Factory

[FREE]6:30 pm: Weekly stand-up open mic, with walk-ins tossing names into a hat and set length determined by the number of comics who show up, atBunga’s Den(137 West 14th Street, between Sixth & Seventh Avenues) hosted by Jimmy LeChase and/or Justin Perez:Townies Open Mic

From legendary NYC comedy site Brooklyn Vegan: Thank God for Hy Bender’s religiously updated show bible BestNewYorkComedy.com. He is literally the only person in NYC providing daily summaries of what’s happening comedy-wise. It must be exhausting keeping that monster of a website alive…It is your daily comedy itinerary and it scares me how on top of his shit this guy is.

Please feel encouraged to reach out to tell me about comedy shows, hire me for book or screenplay work, or for any other reason by emailing me at hy@hyreviews.com.

In Other News: Ben Affleck is taking a lot of heat for covering up the fact that an ancestor of his owned slaves. “People should be open about their family roots,” said one genealogy expert. “Besides, it was a long time ago. Who really even cares anymore?” concluded professor Sam Hitler.

Jamil Ellis performs his memorable FringeNYC 2014 one-man show about the depiction of race in Hollywood at 7:00 pm at a sold-out CultureHub, but you can watch it for free via any Internet device live-streamed here. Directly following the show will be a panel discussion about diversity in show biz that I’m guessing will be worth tuning into all by itself: Magical Negro Speaks

Tonight’s recommendations for the best in New York City comedy (in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

[FREE]7:00 pm: Comedic storytellers Blake Midgette, Mark King, Forrest Haigh, Sean O’Brien, and Nick Mullen performing on the premise “Sometimes people are dicks. Then they tell us about it onstage. It’s great!” at Brooklyn’sOver the Eight(594 Union Ave) for this monthly show hosted by Jake Hart & Nick Padilla:Antagonist Storytelling Series

[TOP PICK][$] 8:00 pm ($29): The onlyFringeNYCshow to ever include a barbershop quartet singing about alcohol and three rounds for each audience member (for my full review, which includes a rave for the spectacular Nicole DiMattei, please clickhere) is now playing as a perfect show for a date every Friday & Saturday night at the West Village’sSoho Playhouse(15 Vandam Street, in the downstairs Huron Club):The Imbible: A Spirited History of Drinking

[FREE]8:00 pm: Four improvisers form teams with comics they’ve never performed with before atThe Creekupstairs theatre in Queens’ Long Island City:The Kaleidoscope

8:30 pm ($7): In this double-bill, a one-man show by Sebastian Conelli about moderately sad characters, and then a duo sketch show from Robert Cuthill & Christian Paluck about “two fathers in their 40s seeking to add meaning to their lives by reflecting on the relationships of those around them” atThe Magnettheatre:Just a Little Sadand#whocares

[TOP PICK]9:30 pm ($5; sold out of seats, but you can still probably get in if you’re okay with standing): TwoUCB Chelseahouse sketch groups try out new material: the daring, out-of-the-box brilliant, and hystericalLegs for Days(stellar performers Livia Scott, Ann Carr, Dan Chamberlain, Sean Hart, Kristen Acimovic, and Joel Weidl, plus exceptionally superb writers) andRoanoke:Maude Night:Legs For DaysandRoanoke

[FREE]10:00 pm: A monthly stand-up show covering “UrbanAlternative comedy, with a mix of comedians calling out the absurd facets of dealing with life in the concrete jungle” atThe Creekupstairs theatre in Queens’ Long Island City hosted by Tiana Miller and/or Dee Marie:Gentrification

10:15 pm ($7): Improv is dominated by guys, so this is a rare treat—a dozen female improvisors “for an evening of comedy that will delight men, women, babies, and kittens,” hosted by Megan Gray atThe Magnettheatre:We Might Just Kiss

[MEGA-TOP PICK] [FREE]11:00 pm: Some of the finest comics in the world—who aren’t announced in advance, but it’s usually a great lineup and often an extraordinary one—atUCB Chelseahosted by the wonderful Aparna Nancherla (one of the finest stand-ups in the country;Comedy Central’s Meltdown, Conan O’Brien, Last Comic Standing):Whiplash

Monday Open Mics & Jams

5:00 pm ($5): Two-hour open-mic for 20 stand-ups performing for 5 minutes each, with sign-up onlinehere, at theStand Up NYComedy Club (236 West 78th Street):Stand Up NY Open Mic

[FREE]6:00 pm: Open mic stand-up show that provides each performer whose name is pulled from a bucket 5 minutes on stage—and also allows everyone play Bingo!—atThe Creekdownstairs lounge in Queens’ Long Island City hosted by Julia Lundy & Veronica Elizabeth:Bingo Open Mic

6:00 pm & 8:00 pm (no cover, 1 drink min. for both comics and audience members): Open mic stand-up providing 5-7 minutes per comic, with each show running 1 hour and 45 minutes. Arrive 30 minutes before the show you want to be in to get on the signup sheet. This is a fine opportunity to perform at the only comedy club in the East Village:Eastville Comedy Club Open Mic

[FREE]11:00 pm: Open mic stand-up show that provides each performer whose name is pulled from a bucket 4 minutes on stage atThe Creekupstairs lounge in Queens’ Long Island City hosted by Joseph Robert:PBR & Scrap Paper Open Mic Stand-Up

[FREE]11:00 pm: Improv students are welcomed onto the stage atThe PITdownstairs lounge for this weekly open access show hosted by Gary DeNoia & Langston Belton:Base Jam

From legendary NYC comedy site Brooklyn Vegan: Thank God for Hy Bender’s religiously updated show bible BestNewYorkComedy.com. He is literally the only person in NYC providing daily summaries of what’s happening comedy-wise. It must be exhausting keeping that monster of a website alive…It is your daily comedy itinerary and it scares me how on top of his shit this guy is.

Please feel encouraged to reach out to tell me about comedy shows, hire me for book or screenplay work, or for any other reason by emailing me at hy@hyreviews.com.

6:30 pm ($5): Three NYC improv groups that are independent (i.e., not a house team of any particular improv school/theatre) compete for audience member laughs and votes atUCB Easthosted by superb improvisors Amey Goerlich & Ryan Karels (half of revered improv groupKrompf):Indie Cage Match

[TOP PICK][$] [DISCOUNTED] 7:00 pm ($11.54onlineusing codeJUICE, otherwise $20 at the door): A musical version of a famed1989 moviewith book, lyrics, and direction by Christopher W. Barnes and music by Ryan Mercy, produced by Ronny Pascale, stage managed by Christine Liz Pynn, and starring a delightful comedic cast that should not be missed including Dana Shulman, Emily Mathwich, Emily Essig, Taylor Ortega, Adrian Sexton, and Julie Feltman. This is the final show of the run, and so your last chance (at least for a while) to enjoy “the best musical about 6 Southern women sittin’ around talkin’ about feelings you will see this year…and that features a 15-foot puppet creature from the underworld” atThe PITupstairs theatre (for video samples, please clickhereandhere):Steel Petunias: The Unauthorized Musical Parody

7:00 pm ($5): “Four teenage girls explore the complex emotions of becoming a woman as their slumber party takes a dark, twisted detour down the unpredictable alley of teenage sex and melancholy” at Brooklyn’sThe Annoyance Theatre(367 Bedford Avenue; take J/M/Z to Marcy Avenue or L to Lorimer Street):Sleepover

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm[FREE]:UCB Chelsea’ssignature improv comedy extravaganza, which typically includes superstars in the improv world such as Shannon O’Neill and Anthony Atamanuik, and sometimes network TV & movie stars such as Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz:ASSSSCAT 3000

[$]8:00 pm ($20 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up who’s starred in his ownComedy Central Presentsspecial and had a recurring role on Showtime’sWeedsheadlining one last night at theGothamComedy Club (with openers Marion Grodin & Vlad Caamano):Bret Ernst

[TOP PICK]9:30 pm ($5): Superb improvisors and guest improv groups join hostSkycopter(which includes the incredibleDavid Carl) to make up one-act plays on the spot atThe PITdownstairs lounge:Act One

Sunday Open Mics & Open Stages

[FREE]3:15 pm: An improv jam celebrating diversity in comedy that lets audience members—whose names are drawn from a bucket—perform with sharp improv/sketch group Astronomy Club (which includes Keisha Zollar and Jonathan Braylock) at theUCB Easttheatre:Diversity Improv Jam

[FREE]4:00 pm: An unusually early walk-in open-mic stand-up show (put your name in the bucket at 3:45), providing 3 minutes or more per comic atThe Creekdownstairs lounge in Queens’ Long Island City hosted by James Ferrarella:Face-Plant Comedy Open Mic

[TOP PICK][ALMOST FREE]5:00 pm ($1): The spectacularTracy Mullloves short-form improv games with a passion, and so is the perfect host for this jam that lets audience members—includingyou—put their names in a bucket. Tracy will then repeatedly pull out a name and a game and facilitate improv magic atThe PITupstairs theatre:Sunday School Short-Form Jam

[FREE]10:00 pm: An open-mic stand-up show (sign up is at 9:45 pm) providing 5 minutes for each comic whose name is pulled from the bucket atThe Creekupstairs theatre in Queens’ Long Island City hosted by Ian Kitchen:The Grandstand

From legendary NYC comedy site Brooklyn Vegan: Thank God for Hy Bender’s religiously updated show bible BestNewYorkComedy.com. He is literally the only person in NYC providing daily summaries of what’s happening comedy-wise. It must be exhausting keeping that monster of a website alive…It is your daily comedy itinerary and it scares me how on top of his shit this guy is.

Please feel encouraged to reach out to tell me about comedy shows, hire me for book or screenplay work, or for any other reason by emailing me at hy@hyreviews.com.

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($10; sold out of seats, but you might be able to get in if you arrive early and are okay with standing): Ellie Kemper & Christina Gausas used to perform duo improv together. For one night only, they do so again at the UCB East theatre: Kempsas

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): “Created in 1995 at the iO Theater in Chicago, The Armando Diaz Experience is the longest running improv show ever. A guest monologist—who tonight is Courtney Wielgus—takes a suggestion from the audience and shares true personal tales. These stories are then brought to life by a rotating cast of improv all-stars—and occasionally Armando himself” at The Magnet theatre: The Armando Diaz Experience

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Improv powerhouses Charlie Todd, Jim Santangeli, Natasha Rothwell, Brandon Gardner, Chelsea Clarke, and more at UCB Chelsea interview an audience member about where he or she grew up and then “turn that town’s tourist attractions, landmarks, hangouts, local celebrities, urban legends, and more into a hilarious show made up on the spot:” The Curfew: Not From Around Here

8:00 pm ($10): A freestyle rapping long-form improv troupe takes the stage for nearly an hour at The PIT downstairs lounge: North Coast

8:00 pm ($8): “When the long-time owner of Ski Mountain dies, everyone expects the mountain to be passed down to his beloved daughter Jocelyn. However, his evil older son Ernest appears at the funeral and takes his lawful control of the mountain. Ernest’s first order of business is to fly in a Swiss mountain and stack it on top of Snow mountain…making a double mountain. While everyone loves the double mountain at first, it becomes clear that Ernest has ulterior motives when he continues flying in Swiss mountains, stacking them higher and higher. With a crisis on their hands, Jocelyn, a reclusive trailer rater named Bearnie, and the employees and residents of Snow Mountain must save the day” at Brooklyn’s The Annoyance Theatre (367 Bedford Avenue; take J/M/Z to Marcy Avenue or L to Lorimer Street): Crisis on Ski Mountain

[$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm & 11:45 pm ($26 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up who starred in his own Comedy Central Presents special and had a recurring role on Showtime’s Weeds headlines tonight and Sunday at the Gotham Comedy Club (with opener Marion Grodin at 8:00 & 10:00, and Vic Henley at 11:45): Bret Ernst

[FREE—plus FREE BEER!] 8:00 pm: Politically incorrect stand-ups compete in this unique show for which each comic performs a set and then has to provide biting commentary on a popular online video. The audience then votes on who was the most savagely funny and has won the right to return the following month. It all happens at The Creek’s upstairs theatre in Queens’ Long Island City hosted by Mike Feeney: On the Offensive

[TOP PICK] 8:30 pm ($10): Improv group Airwolf—which includes such talents as Molly Lloyd, Tim Martin, Achilles Stamatelaky, John Frusciante, and Emily Axford, and in 2012 crushed 15 improv groups in a row at Cage Match, entirely owns the UCB East stage tonight at Airwolf: Let’s Go Back to Your Place

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): An improvised apocalypse from superb comics Anthony Atamanuik, John Murray, and more at the UCB Chelsea theatre: Goat

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): A group of improvisers screen a classic movie musical, gutting all the dialogue and replacing it with their improvised conversations, but leaving the songs intact. (Singing along is encouraged.) Hosted and directed by phenom Jo Firestone (exceptionally inventive and irresistible rising star; radio host of WFMU’s Dr. Gameshow, and live-on-stage host of Punderdome 3000 and The Incredible Game Show Showcase), and improvised by Jo, Philip Markle, Nicole Pasquale, Annie Donley, Carmen Christopher, and Andrew Tisher at Brooklyn’s The Annoyance Theatre (367 Bedford Avenue; take J/M/Z to Marcy Avenue or L to Lorimer Street): Same Songs, Different Plot: West Side Story

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): This unique weekly show incorporates song and dance into sketch comedy focused on pop culture—and does it surprisingly well, with strong writing and a sharp cast of performers. The latter include Amanda Shechtman, who has a lovely musical theatre voice and would fit right in on Broadway (musical comedy casting directors, please take note). It all happens at The PIT upstairs theatre: Pop Roulette

[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($10): A powerhouse group of improvisors—Zhubin Parang (writer for The Daily Show), Michael Kayne (Baby Wants Candy, Diamond Lion), Langan Kingsley (rising star; sketch group Beige, one-woman show The Dicewoman Cometh), Aaron Jackson (Fuck That Shit, Newsadoozies), Natasha Vaynblat (one-woman show United Federation of Teachers), Nate Dern (News Editor for Funny or Die), and Jamison Guest—springboard scenes off interviewing an audience member about his or her love life at the UCB East theatre: What I Did For Love

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 10:00 pm: Henry Zebrowski, Ben Kissel, and Marcus Parks of Cave Comedy Radio’s Last Podcast On The Left “explore the dark recesses of humanity, both real and imagined, via short films, clips from favorite features, and audio spookiness” at Queens LIC’s The Creek upstairs theatre: Last Podcast on the Left Live

10:30 pm ($5): A screening of “Lurid sensationalism! Neon perversions! In a tribute to the midnight movie mayhem of the 70s and 80s, some of the strangest, darkest, sexiest, funniest videos from across the country” at Brooklyn’s The Annoyance Theatre (367 Bedford Avenue; take J/M/Z to Marcy Avenue or L to Lorimer Street) hosted by Anthony Oberbeck: Video Massacre

11:00 pm ($10): Serialized sketch comedy from group Forever Dog about “a seemingly sleepy town sitting at the base of an active volcano” at The PIT upstairs theatre: Volcano Town

11:00 pm ($10): Sketch comedy that describes itself as “a dramatized guide for navigating through everyday concerns such as the meaning of life, our goals & flaws, our sexual curiosities, and the inevitability of a slow death in our soul crushing cesspool” at The PIT downstairs lounge: Cliffnotes on the Human Condition

[FREE] Midnight: Stand-up, sketch, and improv at this variety show at Queens LIC’s The Creek upstairs theatre: Pinball

Saturday Open Mics and Jams

[FREE] 4:00 pm: An unusually early weekly open mic stand-up show (“starts late enough to sleep off that hangover but ends just in time to begin a new one”), with sign-up at 3:30 pm, at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens’ Long Island City hosted by Raj Sivaraman & Sam Evans host: The Amateur Hour

From legendary NYC comedy site Brooklyn Vegan: Thank God for Hy Bender’s religiously updated show bible BestNewYorkComedy.com. He is literally the only person in NYC providing daily summaries of what’s happening comedy-wise. It must be exhausting keeping that monster of a website alive…It is your daily comedy itinerary and it scares me how on top of his shit this guy is.

Please feel encouraged to reach out to tell me about comedy shows, hire me for book or screenplay work, or for any other reason by emailing me at hy@hyreviews.com.

7:00 pm ($7): “It’s important to stay informed. That’s why we bring you all the news that happened this month, at the end of this month. Just your average news show, keeping you up to date with your world one month at a time” at The Magnet written & performed by Jarret Berenstein: Current Events

7:00 pm ($5): Three improv teams compete in this cutthroat battle for laughs. What’s different about this cage match is it’s judged by a dog. Every week features a new human guest judge—whose opinion doesn’t really matter—and a guest canine judge who will actually decide the fates of everyone based on which bowl this dog goes to first. It all happens at Brooklyn’s The Annoyance Theatre (367 Bedford Avenue; take J/M/Z to Marcy Avenue or L to Lorimer Street): Dog Fight

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($5): At UCB Chelsea, a one-man meta-show by Joel Weidl (Goat, Death by Roo Roo) which Joel declares is the last time he performs as a lowest common denominator Jeff Foxworthy-like character who he personally finds offensive so he can pursue higher forms of art—such as playing Werner Herzog having an existential crisis from ordering a burrito at Chipotle (which, Ironically, is actually a brilliant bit and show-stopper…). Joel doesn’t always hit the mark, but his production is so filled with ideas, energy, and verbal and visual jokes that you’re almost certain to have fun at American Weidl…

…and in the second half of this double-bill, Kristen Bartlett (writer for terrific sketch group Goodbye Handsome) & Jason Gore perform a sketch show about dealing with losing their dads within months of each other “but it’s funny, we swear” at the UCB Chelsea theatre: The Dead Dads Club

7:30 pm ($10): Improv group Bucky makes up one long scene in the same location (a winning form that’s helped such teams as Death by Roo Roo win a whole lot of Cage Match victories)—and, when SNL is on break, sometimes includes star Sasheer Zamata (whenever that happens, consider this a TOP PICK)—at the UCB East theatre: Bucky: Thank F#@% It’s Friday!

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Improvisors make up a religion based on an audience suggestion—e.g., The Church of the Carrot, The Church of Crime—and then make up hymns, readings, sermons, sacraments, and more on the spot at The PIT upstairs theatre: Fake Church

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($29): The only FringeNYC show to ever include a barbershop quartet singing about alcohol and three rounds for each audience member (for my full review, which includes a rave for the spectacular Nicole DiMattei, please click here) is now playing as a perfect show for a date every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night at the West Village’s Soho Playhouse (15 Vandam Street, in the downstairs Huron Club): The Imbible: A Spirited History of Drinking

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups performing at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens’ Long Island City hosted by Paul Schissler: Creek Cave Live

[TOP PICK] 8:30 pm ($10): Before this Magnet show, audience members may anonymously submit written confessions, secrets, rants, advice and opinions which will be used onstage by the improvisors—who include such talents as Sebastian Conelli (2014 Cage Match Champion The Enemy): The Friday Night Sh*w

[$] 8:30 pm & 10:30 pm ($26 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up who starred in his own Comedy Central Presents special and had a recurring role on Showtime’s Weeds headlines tonight through Sunday at the Gotham Comedy Club (with openers Vic Henley and Mike Vecchione): Bret Ernst

[MEGA-TOP PICK] [$] 9:00 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in the country from brilliant comics Shannon O’Neill, Connor Ratliff, Jordan Klepper, Don Fanelli, Silvija Ozols, and/or Michael Delaney forming a seamless and hilarious group mind at UCB Chelsea—the all-star members of The Stepfathers

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): Cipha Sounds (Hot 97, Chappelle’s Show) thought it would be cool if a hip-hop star told tales and then improvisors made up scenes based on them. This monthly show is the result, with a “secret” music celebrity “mesmerizing the crowd with amazing stories and linguistic darts to spark the creativity of some of the best improvisers in NYC,” the latter being Anthony Atamanuik, Natasha Rothwell, Brandon Gardner, Lydia Hensler, Christian Capozzoli, and/or Shaun Diston at the UCB East theatre: Take It Personal: The Hip-Hip Improv Show

9:30 pm ($10): Eight stand-ups compete for laughs by telling jokes on topics handed to them just this morning at The PIT downstairs lounge refereed by Jenn Welch & Will Neville: The Stand-Up Showdown

[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($10): Musical improv group Premiere—which features the best improv piano player in the biz, Frank Spitznagel—springboards off an audience suggestion to create a complete story with song and dance at The Magnet theatre: Premiere: The Improvised Musical

10:00 pm ($6.53 online only): “Two comics take the stage to battle for your laughs! With our special headphones, you’ll have the ability to switch between the comedians. If they tell a bad joke, just switch to the other one. Here’s where it gets interesting. The comedians can’t see or hear each other, but they can see into the crowd and see who’s listening to them. So what will a comic do if no one’s listening to him/her? You’ll have to come out to see” at Queens LIC’s The Creek upstairs theatre followed by a party that’s free to ticket holders: Quiet Comedy Battle

11:00 pm ($5): This inexpensive variety show features characters by Chris Aurilio, sketch by duo Anthony Jackson & Jeffrey Mondoro, improv by group The Internet Disagrees, and stand-up by Will Neville, all performing at The PIT upstairs theatre: The Really, Really Cheap Date Show

11:00 pm ($7): Musical improv that springs off an an audience suggestion set in the fictional town of Jasper Falls…and that carries town facts and characters from previous shows into the current one. Tonight is this show’s debut, but once it’s established a town wiki and podcast of previous shows will be available at JasperFalls.com. Meanwhile, come see it live at The Magnet theatre: Welcome to Jasper Falls

5:45 pm (no cover, 1 drink min. for both comics and audience members): Open mic stand-up providing 5-7 minutes per comic, running 1 hour. Arrive 30 minutes before the show to get on the signup sheet. This is a fine opportunity to perform at the only comedy club in the East Village: Eastville Comedy Club Open Mic

[FREE] 6:00 pm: An open-mic show on a lottery system (sign-ups happen at 5:45-6:00 pm) at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens’ Long Island City with host Eli Sairs: The Orphanage

From legendary NYC comedy site Brooklyn Vegan: Thank God for Hy Bender’s religiously updated show bible BestNewYorkComedy.com. He is literally the only person in NYC providing daily summaries of what’s happening comedy-wise. It must be exhausting keeping that monster of a website alive…It is your daily comedy itinerary and it scares me how on top of his shit this guy is.

Please feel encouraged to reach out to tell me about comedy shows, hire me for book or screenplay work, or for any other reason by emailing me at hy@hyreviews.com.